In Support of Research Libraries

“Libraries have always been a place of inspiration and research. They are also a critical part of the fabric of our democracy and civic life.”

Recently I joined with fellow directors of research libraries across the United States to express support for the important work libraries do and to voice our concern over potential funding cuts in the federal budget. I share here the letter in full:

Letter in Support of the NEH, IMLS and NHPRC from the Directors of Independent Research Libraries

Independent research libraries preserve books, manuscripts and other precious materials that sustain the national conversation about who we are as Americans and also who we have been. As directors of these libraries, we have direct experience of the impact of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) on the work we do with scholars and our communities. Across topics ranging from medieval poetry to the history of business and entrepreneurship, newspapers, and medicine to the settlement of the American West, our libraries have been crucial to the study of the humanities and the arts that inspire them. These federal agencies have been vital partners in those efforts, allowing us to share our knowledge and rare materials on a scale none of us could achieve alone.

Because our libraries are not supported by universities or affiliated with federal research institutions, we are the sole custodians of the materials we possess. We see firsthand, then, the importance of having a federal partner and funder for the work that we do. Often this support leverages private and corporate philanthropy, which multiplies our impact. Our frequent experience is that federal investment is necessary for subsequent philanthropy, without which our work would diminish. Federal support also allows us to take the conversations we start and share them widely, whether that is in local or traveling exhibitions, scholarly symposia and research fellowships, or digital media that provides access to our collections remotely. For example, 530,000 visitors in 50 states and two territories were able to see a copy of Shakespeare’s 1623 First Folio last year with NEH support. Libraries have always been a place of inspiration and research. They are also a critical part of the fabric of our democracy and civic life. We believe the NEH, IMLS, and NHPRC are vital to the work we do, and hope that legislators recognize the significant impact these agencies have on the constituents whom they and we serve.